The tranquil seaside town of Southport, North Carolina, was shattered on the night of September 27, 2025, when a mass shooting erupted at the popular American Fish Company restaurant, leaving three people dead and at least five others wounded. Authorities have described the attack as “highly premeditated” and say the location was specifically targeted, a chilling detail that has left the community reeling and searching for answers.
According to Southport Police Chief Todd Coring, the suspect — identified as Nigel Edge, a 40-year-old resident of Oak Island — allegedly piloted a small boat close to shore, stopped briefly in the waterway, and opened fire with a short-barreled AR rifle equipped with a suppressor, folding stock, and scope. The restaurant’s outdoor deck was crowded with patrons, many of them vacationers enjoying live music on a warm Saturday night. Edge, described by authorities as a “lone wolf,” then sped away from the scene, setting off a frantic search along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Within half an hour, a U.S. Coast Guard crew spotted a man matching Edge’s description attempting to load a boat at a public ramp on Oak Island. He was detained without incident and handed over to Southport police. As Brunswick County District Attorney Jon David confirmed, Edge is now being held without bond at the Brunswick County Detention Center and is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday, September 29, 2025.
The aftermath of the shooting was chaotic and heartbreaking. Emergency responders rushed to the scene at 9:30 p.m. following multiple reports of gunfire and injuries. Eight people in total were shot, with three pronounced dead at the scene and five transported to local hospitals. At least one of the wounded is “clinging for their life,” according to District Attorney David. The victims’ names have not yet been released, but officials have noted that many were from out of state, visiting Southport for a weekend getaway.
Law enforcement agencies from across the region, including the State Bureau of Investigation and the Coast Guard, have been collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and searching the suspect’s boat, car, and home. Oak Island Police Chief Charlie Morris noted that Edge was a familiar face to local officers, often seen on the town’s pier and known for filing a number of lawsuits against the town and police department in recent years. “He has been a resident in Oak Island for several years,” Morris said, “and has filed numerous lawsuits against the town and the police department within the last couple of years.”
While Edge had some minor brushes with law enforcement, officials say there was nothing in his past that would have predicted such an act of violence. “There were some minor contacts over the years, but nothing significant in his past which would give us any indication that he was capable of such horror,” District Attorney David told reporters. Still, the bizarre nature of Edge’s recent lawsuits has raised eyebrows. Court records reveal that Edge — who changed his name from Sean DeBevoise in 2023 — filed several conspiracy-laden lawsuits this year, including one accusing a local church of plotting to kill him as part of a “civil conspiracy” masterminded by the LGBTQ community and white supremacist pedophiles. Another suit accused a medical center of being part of a similar plot. Both cases were dismissed with prejudice.
Edge’s background adds further complexity to the tragedy. Authorities and military records confirm that he served in the United States Marine Corps from 2003 to 2009, deploying to Iraq in 2005 and 2006. He received a slew of military honors, including the Purple Heart, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. Edge claims he was injured in two separate IED attacks during his 2006 tour in Iraq and continues to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of his service.
Southport Police Chief Coring acknowledged these claims at a press conference, stating, “We understand this suspect identifies as a combat veteran. He self-identifies. Injured in the line of duty is what he’s saying, he suffers from PTSD.” However, Coring also emphasized that the investigation into Edge’s background, including his military service and mental health history, is ongoing.
The suspect’s erratic behavior and conspiracy theories were not limited to the courts. In a book penned under his former name, "Headshot: Betrayal of a Nation," Edge described being shot multiple times by friendly fire in Iraq, claiming he was the target of an international conspiracy. He also appeared in the public eye in 2012, accompanying “American Idol” star Kellie Pickler to the Country Music Awards, a detail that has only added to the public’s fascination and bewilderment at the case.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone who was at the American Fish Company on the night of the shooting — or even the night before — to come forward with any photos, videos, or information that might help piece together the events leading up to the tragedy. “Please call our office if you have any videos or you were there last night and we have not talked to you,” Coring pleaded during his update to the press.
The impact of the shooting is being felt deeply in Southport and beyond. The American Fish Company has announced it will be closed indefinitely as the community mourns and tries to recover. “We’re a small community, one of the communities where everybody knows everybody,” Chief Coring said. “It’s just a very tragic night.”
For many, the attack is a stark reminder of how quickly violence can invade even the most peaceful of places. The fact that so many of the victims were visitors has only heightened the sense of loss. As investigators work to determine a motive and unravel the suspect’s troubled past, the town of Southport is left grappling with grief — and a renewed determination to support one another in the wake of tragedy.
With the investigation still in its early stages, officials have asked for patience and privacy as they work to notify victims’ families and gather all the facts. The hope, echoed by Chief Coring and District Attorney David, is that the community can begin to heal, even as it seeks answers to the senseless violence that struck its heart.
